Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 134

130. Where do you think you’re going?

 

“When exactly did this person named Lee Semyung come?” I asked as I clenched my fists. 

 

My nails dug into my skin, causing sharp pain. This feels better, especially because my head was on the verge of going crazy.

 

– Uhm… That’s… 

 

The cat manager opened the guest list calmly, which contrasted with the tempo of my racing heart. Then he said something I couldn’t understand, and Alex translated it for me.

 

“In human time… well. I’m not sure, but 12 years? Maybe it was 15 years ago. It is difficult to say precisely because the flow of time in this place is different from there.”

 

15 years ago.

 

If Dad really came here 15 years ago, as Aunt Heeyoung predicted, he might not be dead but rather missing. I urgently asked the cat manager, “Where did he go after checking out?” and the manager’s eyes were blurred.

 

– I don’t even remember that. Normally, our hotel guests return to where they came from.

 

It’s the same logic as the Dungeon Hotel.

 

At that time, Alex gave a slightly troubled smile. For some reason, her eyes were growing increasingly wary as I asked for more and more details about her former guests.

 

“Also, customers’ personal information is subject to protection. Didn’t I definitely learn that one thing from my father?!”

 

It’s a strange feeling; whether to call it energetic or greasy, it’s like a reptile.

 

‘Are these guys really not remembering my Dad, or are they just pretending not to remember?’

 

I held back the urge to immediately bring out the goblin bat, put Alex on top of a pine tree, and demand that she speak about my Dad. However, this place is a dragon’s hotel, where the hotel owner holds the most power. The opponent, known as the ‘Guardian of Wanderers,’ is a dragon and probably has better fighting skills than me.

 

Moreover, like the Yeongchun Hotel, there was a possibility that guests wouldn’t be able to use force inside the hotel. I had to get them to reveal the truth using a method other than force.”

 

At that time, the ‘Partnership’ window appeared in front of me.

 

I calmly took a sip of black tea to calm myself down and asked Alex, “I’m sorry. I was really curious about the internal affairs of the hotel, wasn’t I?”

 

“Yes? Ah, yes, well…” 

 

It was an expression that said, ‘It’s enough if you know.’

 

“…Actually, I’m the owner of another hotel.”

 

“….!” Alex’s eyes widened at those words, and she asked, “Did you happen to come from the Kumari Hotel?!”

 

Alex’s hair stood up. Then, starting from the back of the hand, scales began to emerge all over the body, and Alex’s pupils flickered with a chilly red color.

 

I don’t know where Kumari Hotel is, but is it a competitor?

 

“Kumari punk!” 

 

“But…I’m from the Yeongchun Hotel?” I said it quickly before Alex destroyed the table.

 

“Ahh…Is that so?” Alex’s face calmed down a bit when she heard the word ‘Yeongchun’, “I’m sorry. I heard that the Kumari family is leading a lot of people down the path of pleasure by running a large hotel these days. However, those guys are originally minions of the Demon King, they’re like Guardian of Alcohol and Partying. It’s not a hotel where people can relax, but a debauched banquet hall that sucks people’s life force…!”

 

It was the first passionate look I saw from Alex. 

 

If you put that passion into hotel management, you’ll be able to succeed quickly, Alex.

 

“My hotel has fewer employees than here, but we have a lot of guests. A total of nine rooms are full almost every day.”

 

“…Fully booked!” Alex’s eyes widened.

 

“And even if they don’t stay at the hotel, just with the coffee shop guests, we are financially stable.”

 

Alex’s eyes filled with awe at the words ‘finance’ and ‘stable.’ 

 

Hoho… It must have been very difficult. 

 

I think there is no better bait than this to catch self-employed people in need.

 

“So, have you ever heard of the ‘Hotel Partnership’?”

 

“Partnership… what?” 

 

Alex Grey looked puzzled at my question, as if it were her first time hearing it? 

 

‘What is it? The status window clearly said to ask Alex.’

 

Fortunately, Alex seemed to remember something all of a sudden and clapped her hands together.

 

“Ah. You’re talking about mana sharing! I remember. In the past, my father helped weak collateral inns by sharing mana. It was about becoming one of my father’s family.”

 

Family? 

 

So, since this is a ‘Partnership’, does it mean we become each other’s dependents? 

 

“Becoming a member of the family…?” I asked cautiously. 

 

“I can help you upgrade some facilities, I can borrow spirits when needed, and the two hotels can be connected through a portal.”

 

Connect…! 

 

In that case, from my perspective, it would be like securing a door through which I could access another world. Even the door of the hotel where Dad was a guest.

 

I smiled inwardly and said to Alex.

 

“I think this is something that Boss and I really need right now. When I’m busy, I sometimes get help from the boss’s spirits, and the boss also gets some tips on hotel management.”

 

“A tip?”

 

“Well… for example…”  I glanced at the cat manager, who, before I knew it, was on top of the wall, stretching, and spoke in a hushed tone, “A method for taming a manager who, with an illness that considers everything troublesome, or something like that…?”

 

“…?!”

 

Alex covered her mouth as if she were touched. 

 

Her biggest worry right now was the manager. Even if it were me, it would be the same. The issue is not just leading the other employees; it’s having a manager who only sits in his spot, complaining about how troublesome it is every day.

 

I quickly pressed the accept Partnership button as I saw Alex’s eyes shaking. 

 

Hotel Partnership: Waiting for acceptance from the hotel owner of ‘Grey’s hotel’…

 

Now, I guess the partnership request has gone that way, right?

 

“To run a hotel by yourself… You must have been lonely, right? Why don’t you try it with me from now on?” I said with the most generous and friendly smile I could muster.

 

This was my final strategy for dealing with the loneliness of managing disobedient employees. Alex, with tired eyes, readily accepted the request.

 

“Thank you…very much!”

 

As soon as the indication of forming a partnership with her appeared, I immediately disclosed a fact that I hadn’t revealed to her until now.

 

“Ah, right. There’s something I didn’t tell you… The hotel I’m the boss of is the former Merlin Grey’s hotel.” 

 

I couldn’t tell her because I was afraid that if I told her in advance, she would rush to me and demand that I give up her father’s hotel. Now that she’s a partnership member, she can’t harm me, right? 

 

“…What do you mean?”

 

“That’s literally it. I now own Merlin Grey’s hotel, which was sucked into a dimensional gap.” I say that, and before Alex rushes in, “Toto. Geumdong.”

 

I summoned the spirits of our hotel.

 

“Did you call me? Boss.” 

 

“Booooossss! I miss youuuu! You didn’t forget about us because you went on a hotel vacation, right?!”

 

* * *

 

Chiiik.

 

This time, the fire control failed again. Moon Heeyoung looked down at the burnt bindaetteok and shook her head.

 

“How on earth do you make it?”

 

She threw the fifth burnt bindaetteok into the sink and checked the cupboard, finding ramen. Should she use soju instead of makgeolli? However, there was no soju in the refrigerator, and there will be some C&M people waiting around the hotel.

 

It was not difficult to send them on errands, but— 

 

‘I feel uncomfortable.’

 

I’d rather drink industrial alcohol than drink the soju those b*stards buy.

 

Moon Heeyoung thought so as she went up to the second floor of the accommodation. She then lightly jumped down into her backyard. Making sure not to make any noise, she climbed over the wall and headed out onto the street.

 

She had used the items to create a hallucinatory clone of herself on her first floor. She barely used her A-Class items to go out and buy a bottle of soju. Ever since visiting that hotel, she has been constantly missing her time in Korea. 

 

The short but intense time the five of them spent together. At such times, she would drink cold soju from Kim Junsoo’s house or Hwang Misoon’s workshop. When those five people were together, life didn’t seem funny at all. 

 

It wasn’t boring; rather, it was always just interesting. 

 

She wandered through the alleys of Insa-dong and finally found a convenience store, where she bought six bottles of soju. As she made her way back, walking without a clear destination, she suddenly stopped at a spot.

 

When did I get here? I have to go back. Before I get caught—when she thinks like that.

 

Drrrrk.

 

With the sound of the door opening, someone with curly hair suddenly popped out from inside. The person who hates Moon Heeyoung the most in this world—it was Hwang Misoon.

 

“Ah, tsk. No luck starting this morning.”

 

She knew that swearing would come out first because she’s been like that since a long time ago.

 

“Sorry. I saw this place on my way to buy soju.” Moon Heeyoung spoke casually and tried to pass by Misoon’s workshop. 

 

“Hey. Don’t you even bother wearing shoes when you come out to buy soju?”

 

“….?” 

 

Heeyoung then looked down at her feet. She came out wearing indoor slippers, just as she was. Hwang Misoon shook her head, took off her shoes, and placed them in front of Heeyoung. They were three-stripe slippers.

 

“…Don’t tell me… put it on?” 

 

“Do you think I gave it to you to eat, then?” Hwang Misoon hesitated and opened her mouth. “I heard from Lim Sehwan. I heard you saved Junghyo at the hotel the other day.” 

 

…There are ears and mouths everywhere.

 

Moon Heeyoung stared at Hwang Misoon’s slippers.

 

“Hey, I’m sorry… but I can’t wear these slippers because I think they will smell like feet…” 

 

Misoon exploded at Heeyoung’s words.

 

“You crazy punk! Are you trying to challenge me now?!”

 

“…Hey, I’m sorry… If you and I were to compete, wouldn’t you naturally lose? You’re just a nerd after all.”

 

“Wow, you really haven’t changed at all?”

 

“Hey, I’m sorry, but… what’s the point of change?”

 

“Hey! Don’t say you’re sorry. You’re not sorry at all!”

 

That was the starting point. The starting point of a drinking battle between two people.

 

And a while later, a post like this was posted in the baby Junghyo fan group chat.

 

SSS-Class Junghyo fan club

 

Hwang Misoon invited Moon Heeyoung.

 

Kim Junsoo

 

? 

 

What are you doing? 

 

Hwang Misoon

 

Why? If you’re S-Class and a fan of Junghyo, shouldn’t you be able to invite him to the group chat room?

 

Moon Heeyoung

 

ㅎㅎㅎㅎ, but why isn’t Han Woohyun in this room?

 

Kim Junsoo

 

Are you drunk? 

 

Hwang Misoon 

 

(Photo of 15 empty soju bottles)

 

What am I going to do about this?

 

Kim Junsoo

 

My KakaoTalk smells like alcohol.

 

Moon Heeyoung

 

Misoon-ah! Why don’t you invite Han Woohyun too?! Huh?! He’s handsome!

 

Hwang Misoon 

 

Ah, I will invite him. I will invite him. 

 

Hwang Misoon invited Han Woohyun.

 

Han Minhyuk left the room.

 

Hwang Misoon invited Han Minhyuk.

 

Hwang Misoon.

 

Where do you think you’re going? The b*stard who leave this room from now on are…  Don’t even think about using my items.